' Cant. V. 1. 3 Matt. v. 6. » John iv. 14. * Isa. xxv. 6; Prov. ix. 2.
* Jonah iv. 6; Isa. xxv. 4, xxxii. 2; 2 Cor. v. 21; Gal. iii. 13; Mai. iv. 2.
44 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CUllIST.
from wrath under the covert of the righteousness of the Lord Jesus ! There is also refreshment in a shade from weariness. He is " as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land," Isa. xxxii. 2. From the power of corruptions, trouble of temptations, distress of persecutions, there is in him quiet, rest, and repose, Matt. xi. 27, 28.
Having thus mutually described each other, and so made it mani- fest that they cannot but be delighted in fellowship and communion, in the next verses that communion of theirs is at large set forth and described. I shall briefly observe four things therein : — (1 .) Siueet- ness. (2.) Delight. (3.) Safety. (4.) Comfort.
(1.) Siveetness: "He brought me to the banqueting-house, " or " house of wine." It is all set forth under expressions of the greatest sweetness and most delicious refreshment, — flagons, apples, wine, etc. " He entertains me," saith the spouse, " as some great personage. ' Great personages, at gi-eat entertainments, are had into the banquet- ing-house,— the house of wine and dainties. These are the prepara- tions of grace and mercy, — love, kindness, supplies revealed in the gospel, declared in the assemblies of the saints, exhibited by the Spirit. This " love is better than wine," Cant. i. 2 ; it is " not meat and drink, but righteousness, and^ peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Gospel dainties are sweet refreshments ; whether these houses of Avine be the Scriptures, the gospel, or the ordinances dispensed in the assemblies of the saints, or any eminent and signal manifestations of special love (as banqueting is not every day's work, nor used at ordi- nary entertainments), it is all one. Wine, that cheereth the heart of man, that makes him forget his misery, Prov. xxxi. 6, 7, that gives him a cheerful look and coimtenance. Gen. xlix. 12, is that which is promised. The grace exhibited by Christ in his ordinances is re- freshing, strengthening, comforting, and full of sweetness to the souls of the saints. Woe be to such full souls as loathe tliese honey-combs! But thus Christ makes all his assemblies to be banqueting-houses ; and there he gives his saints entertainment.
(2.) Delight. The spouse is quite ravished with the sweetness of this entertainment, finding love, and care, and kindness, bestowed by Christ in the assemblies of the saints. Hence she cries out, verse 5, " Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love." Upon the discovery of the excellency and sweetness of Christ in the banqueting-house, the soul is instantly overpowered, and cries out to be made partaker of the fulness of it. She is " sick of love:" not (as some suppose) fainting for want of a sense of love, under the apprehension of wrath ; but made sick and faint, even overcome, with the mighty actings of that divine afToction, after she had once tasted of the sweetness of Christ in tlie baii([ueting-house. Her desire de- ' Rom. xiv. 17; John vii. 37; Prov. xxvii. 7.
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 45
ferred, makes her heart sick ; therefore she cries, " Stay me," etc. ; — " I have seen a gUmpse of the ' King in his beauty,' — tasted of the fruit of his righteousness ; my soul melteth in longing after him. Oh ! support and sustain my spirit with his presence in his ordinances, — those ' flagons and apples of his banqueting-house,' — or I shall quite sink and faint ! Oh, what hast thou done, blessed Jesus ! I have seen thee, and my soul is become as the chariots of Ammi-nadib. Let me have something from thee to support me, or I die." When a person is fainting on any occasion, these two things are to be done: — strength is to be used to support him, that he sink not to the ground; and comfortable things are to be applied, to refresh his spirits. These two the soul, overpowered and fainting with the force of its own love, (raised by a sense of Christ's,) prayeth for. It would have strengthening grace to support it in that condition, that it may be able to attend its duty; and consolations of the Holy Ghost, to content, revive, and satiate it, until it come to a full enjoyment of Christ. And thus sweetly and with delight is this communion carried on.
(3.) Safety: " His banner over me was love," verse 4. The ban- ner is an emblem of safety and protection, — a sign of the presence of an host. Persons belonging to an army do encamp under their banner in security. So did the children of Israel in the wilderness; every tribe kept their caiiaps under their own standard. It is also a token of success and victory, Ps. xx. 5. Christ hath a banner for his saints ; and that is love. All their protection is from his love ; and they shall have all the protection his love can give them. This safe- guards them from hell, death, — all their enemies. Whatever presses on them, it must pass through the banner of the love of the Lord Jesus. They have, then, great spiritual safety ; which is another orna- ment or excellency of their communion with him.